Library/STEAM Specialist

MEDIA SPECIALIST/STEAM TEACHER

Reports To: Building Principal/Director of Curriculum and Instruction Qualifications Valid N.J. Educational Media Specialist or N.J. Associate Media Specialist Certification (or willingness to obtain) Successful experience in library media center organization, administration, and management Demonstrated ability related to collection development, information technology, research methodology, and library program designs for children and adolescents Effective problem-solving, human relations, and communication skills Required criminal history background check and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status Required Mantoux test Must meet NJ Residency requirements as per the "New Jersey First Act," N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70) Job Goal The Media Specialist/STEAM Teacher is responsible for ensuring that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. Their mission is to empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. They should work to instill a love of learning in all students and ensure equitable access to information, and to collaborate with classroom teachers and specialists to design and implement lessons and units of study that effectively integrate instructional technology that enhance learning. Performance Responsibilities Is responsible for the operation and supervision of the school media center. Participates in the curriculum development process at both the building and district level to ensure that the curricula include the full range of literacy skills (information, media, visual, digital, and technological literacy) necessary to meet content standards and to develop lifelong learners. Maintains a comprehensive and efficient system for organizing all media center materials and instructs teachers and students on use of the system. Coordinates library skills instruction with classroom instruction and works to achieve state curriculum content standards and district educational goals and objectives and collaborates with teachers to integrate information literacy competencies across the curricula. Empowers students as creators, encouraging and facilitating students to become increasingly self-directed as they create digital products of their learning that engage them in critical thinking, collaboration and authentic, real-world problem solving. Supports the digital transformation efforts of the district by designing collaborative spaces, providing flexible spaces that promote inquiry, creativity, collaboration, and community (i.e. Makerspaces and STEAM-Powered Research Lab). Develops and maintains a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, the teaching styles, and instructional strategies used within the school community, in accordance with district policy. Encourages the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning, providing 24/7 access to digital information resources for the entire learning community. Provides leadership and expertise in the selection, acquisition, evaluation, and organization of information resources and technologies in all formats, as well as expertise in the ethical use of information. Assists teachers in the selection of books and other instructional materials and makes media center materials available to supplement the instructional program. Helps students to develop habits of independent reference work and to develop skills in the use of reference material in relation to planned assignments. Conducts in-service education for teachers in the effective evaluation, selection, and use of media and maintains professional library materials for teacher use. Supervises the clerical activities necessary for the effective operation of the media center. Supervises the work performance of the media aide. Promotes relationships with external information sources and participates in electronic networks and resource-sharing systems to expand the media center's capacity to access information globally. Remains current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs through in-service education and other professional development activities. Performs such other related duties as may be assigned. Terms of Employment Work year and salary to be determined by the board. Evaluation Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with state law and the provisions of the board's policy on evaluation of certified staff. Wage or Salary Information Certified Teaching Staff: 2026-2027 Salary Range $ 64,000 - $97,251 Benefits Information Enrollment in TPAF (Teacher's Pension and Annuity Fund) and Group Life Insurance through NJ Department of Pensions and Benefits AmeriHealth New Jersey Educators Health Plan (Medical) Benecard (Prescription) Delta Dental (Dental) Ameriflex (FSA) Flexible Spending Account Opt-Out of Benefits Annual Waiver. Range: up to $5,000 per year Ten Paid Sick days, Three Personal Days Eligibility for enrollment in 403b Tax Shelter Annuity Plans. Vendors: MetLife/Brighthouse, Equitable,Midland or Lincoln Investment Planning. Eligibility for enrollment in Disability, Life, Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, Hospital Confinement Plans with Colonial Life Insurance. Eligibility for enrollment in Disability Insurance with Prudential, Colonial Life, or AFLAC. Extra Compensation Programs Extra-Curricular Stipends After School Tutoring and Homebound Tutoring Professional Development Workshops in the District #J-18808-Ljbffr Spectrum 360 A NJ Non Profit Corp.